# Sign Regulations in Van Wert, Ohio

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Van Wert, Ohio, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Van Wert, Ohio (OH)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/ohio/van-wert
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-11
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/vanwert/latest/vanwert_oh/0-0-0-25713)

## At a glance

Van Wert, Ohio regulates 7 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Pole or Logo Signs in the Business or industrial district zoning district are capped at 30 feet tall and 50 square feet, with a The pole support of the sign shall not be less than 50 feet from any lot in any R District setback (Sec. § 150.46(C)(5)). Most commercial signs in Van Wert require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| Residential Zoned areas | 1 | — | — | — |
| Business or industrial district | 3 | 30 feet | 200 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 50 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 150.46(B)(6) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | May be erected within ten feet from the established right-of-way line of any street or highway | — | On the premises being sold, rented, or leased | — | § 150.46(B)(1) |
| Bulletin Board or Sign | — | 15 square feet | — | May be erected within ten feet from the established right-of-way line of any street or highway | — | Church, school, community or other public or semipublic institutional buildings | — | § 150.46(B)(3) |
| Wall Sign | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | On the same premises of nonconforming use | — | § 150.46(B)(4) |

### Residential Zoned areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Illuminated Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 150.46(B)(2) |

### Business or industrial district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | On the building face nearest parallel to the street line | — | § 150.46(C)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 feet | 150 square feet | — | Not closer than 10 feet to any street right-of-way line and not closer than 100 feet to any adjoining lot line | — | Not closer than 10 feet to any street right-of-way line and not closer than 100 feet to any adjoining lot line | — | § 150.46(C)(4) |
| Pole or Logo Sign | 30 feet | 50 square feet | — | The pole support of the sign shall not be less than 50 feet from any lot in any R District | 1 per business, 2 if at intersection of major highways | Not projecting into the right-of-way of any street or highway | — | § 150.46(C)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Van Wert

- No person shall erect any signboard or hang any sign extending into the street more than 3 feet from the building or lot line without first obtaining a permit.
- No person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device which purports to be, is an imitation of, or resembles a traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal.
- No sign shall be placed in any public right-of-way except publicly owned signs, such as traffic control signs and directional signs, without approval of the Board of Control.
- No building wall shall be used for display of advertising except that pertaining to the use carried on within such building.
- No sign shall be permitted upon any premises designated as adult foster care homes.

## Signs exempt from permit in Van Wert

- Public notices, traffic control signs and other official signs and notices are exempt from the provisions of this section.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A separate permit shall be required for the erection of signs regulated by this chapter, except that no permit shall be required for temporary real estate signs with an area of 12 square feet for the sale or lease of property and for small announcement signs with an area of less than 2 square feet.
- Each application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by a drawing showing the design proposed, the size, character and color of letters, lines and symbols, method of illumination, the exact location of the sign in relation to the building and property and the details and specifications for construction.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Van Wert, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Van+Wert+OH&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-van-wert

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